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Blacktown leads way in hospital building boom

Health Minister Jillian Skinner and Treasurer Mike Baird today inspected early works on the state’s largest hospital building project as Mr Baird prepares to hand down a budget containing $1.2 billion in health capital works.

The five-storey clinical services building on the Blacktown campus is the centrepiece of the $324 million Blacktown Mt Druitt Hospital expansion project.

"The NSW Government is committed to delivering world-class services to meet the growing health needs of the people of NSW, in western Sydney and across the state," Mrs Skinner said.

“This state-of-the-art building is one of dozens of projects funded under the NSW Government’s first-term $4.7 billion health infrastructure program."

Mr Baird said next week’s Budget would again demonstrate the NSW Government commitment to rebuilding the state’s hospitals.

"Despite the state’s revenue challenge, the NSW Government is delivering on its promises to improve frontline services for the people of NSW, protect the vulnerable and invest in critical infrastructure across the state," Mr Baird said.

"The tough decisions we have made means we will commit more than $1.2 billion in health capital works in Tuesday’s Budget for the coming year.

Major projects underway and planned across NSW include:

Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment ($139 million)

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Stage 1 redevelopment ($120 million)

St George Hospital emergency department upgrade ($39 million)

Royal North Shore Hospital clinical services building ($144 million)

Construction of the South East Regional Hospital (at Bega, $170 million)

Mrs Skinner said the Government’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure spend was about more than bricks and mortar.

"As I visit the dozens of hospitals and health care facilities where rebuilding and refurbishment is underway, staff tell me what an enormous boost it is to their spirits," she said.

"They expect the environments in which they work to match the high quality of care they deliver to their patients."

The new clinical services building at Blacktown campus will comprise comprehensive care centres for cancer, cardiac, respiratory and aged care services in purpose-built facilities.

The new cardiac centre will consolidate coronary care and cardiac care services from the Blacktown and Mount Druitt campuses, providing easy access to diagnostic and related clinical services such as intensive care, emergency, respiratory and diabetes. A cardiac gym will promote recovery and lifestyle education.

Construction of the new clinical services building at Blacktown will conclude in 2015.

As well as the clinical services building, the Blacktown campus project will deliver:

a new multi-storey car park for 600 cars.

a new sub-acute mental health facility to provide step-down care for adults preparing to return to the community.

The Mount Druitt campus project will deliver:

extra emergency department capacity with the establishment of a new urgent care centre.

eight extra dental chairs in an expanded dental facility.

greater rehabilitation services.

Local MPs Kevin Conolly (Riverstone) and Andrew Rohan (Smithfield) joined Mrs Skinner and Mr Baird in inspecting early construction works at the Blacktown site.

"Our Government has done the hard yards in terms of planning for the future – the 600 space car park is a fine example," Mr Conolly said.

Mr Rohan said: "The local community is delighted greater clinical services are on the way to meet the needs of our growing community. I am very proud that the NSW Government has delivered for the people of western Sydney."